Interesting Stories and Notes

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Joseph Walter (Wally) Burgar (1894-1915) died in the Second Battle of Ypres

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website has:

In memory of
Joseph Walter Burgar
Rifleman
S/245
9th Battalion Rifle Brigade<
who died on
Saturday 25th September 1915

Since he had no known grave, his name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.   He is listed on Panel No. 46-48,50

 Burgar J.W, Rifleman  (between the names Burfett L.R and Burge E.E).

In the Menin Gate register it is said that he had no next of kin, but obviously that is incorrect.

Margaret Steele (niece) has sent me a letter concerning the circumstances of his death.   The letter was from the British Red Cross and tells of a Sergt Clinton who took part in the action on the 25th September and knew Wally.

"...two companies were ordered to take some trenches (at Loos) and as they met with more opposition than was expected, two more companies were ordered up in support, out of whom several men were blown up by a mine. This resulted in the capture of several men in the
advance companies and Sergt. Clinton had always believed, on the evidence of other men in the company, that your son was one of those. As, however, his name has never come in to us on a Prisoners List from Germany, and you have apparently not heard from him yourself, I fear that this must be a mistake.  Sergt. Clinton adds that in the smoke and confusion it was difficult to
distinguish men."  ¹¹⁷

His sister, Rose, said that he died on his 21st birthday

The National Roll of of the Great War has:

Burgar J.W. Rifleman, The Rifle Brigade¹¹⁴

He volunteered in 1914, and after training was drafted to the Western Front in the following May. He took part in the second Battle of Ypres and in the engagements at Festubert and Loos where he was killed in action on September 25th 1915.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals.

27 Langford Road, Fulham, S.W.6 X21358A

In other records his regiment is referred to as 'The Rifle Bigade (The Prince Consorts Own)'

He enlisted at Walham Green, Middlesex, number S/245.

Wally's Father, Mother, and three sisters all receive mention in The National Roll of of the Great War
 

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